Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Retire in Pinedale, Wyoming?
Overview: Rural Pinedale sits on a plain in the shadow of the Wind River Mountain Range in west central Wyoming, about 75 miles southeast of stunning Jackson Hole. It started out in 1904 and earned its keep as a supply town for tie hacks (people who cut trees for railroad ties) and as a base camp for Eastern tenderfoots embarking on horsepacking trips into the high country.
Living in such a remote place, Pinedale residents have always been an independent, self-sufficient bunch. The town grew slowly for most of its history, but things began to rapidly change in the 1990s when two huge natural gas fields were discovered south of town. Since then, gas rigs have sprung up outside of Pinedale, attracting a new breed of well-paid blue collar worker. Outdoor activities remain a way of life with several deep glacial lakes and two designated wilderness areas nearby. Outdoor adventurers still come to backpack, fish and camp, while the nearby White Pine Ski Area draws downhillers and boarders. The annual Green River Rendezvous includes rodeos and parades, attracting people from around the region. Cowboys on their way to northern cattle markets drive their herds through town each June.
The downtown stretches along Pine Street (Highway 191), a wide avenue with motels, a miniature golf course, gas stations, pancake houses, lodges, outdoor gear stores, a supermarket, a hardware store, cafes and the like. Older neighborhoods are low density and a little untidy with ranch ramblers, while new subdivisions are more compact with few trees. Pronghorns, moose, deer, elk and more are never far away.
Population: 2,000 (city proper)
Percentage of Population Age 45 or Better: 35%
Cost of Living: 4% above the national average
Median Home Price: $265,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 70s and 80s, and winter temperatures are in the single digits, teens and 20s. On average, the area receives 10 inches of rain and 60 inches of snow each year. The elevation is 7,185 feet above sea level.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No
At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission? No. The nearest hospital is 55 miles away in Afton and it is not accredited. Pinedale does, though, have a medical clinic with a heliport.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Meets the national average
Public Library: Yes, and it is in a lovely, modern log building.
Political Leanings: Very, very conservative
Is Wyoming Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: None
Notes: Parts of Pinedale are a little rough around the edges. A third natural gas field is set to open about 30 miles south of town. Pinedale's median income is well above the national median.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, although the distance to a hospital should be carefully weighed.
Wyoming
Wyoming's territorial legislature granted women the right to vote in 1869. It was the first government entity in the world to recognize "female sufferage." The Equality State entered the Union about 21 years later on July 10, 1890.
The 10th largest state by area, Wyoming is one of the country's smallest by population. The mean elevation is 6,700 feet above above sea level. The state can be divided by three distinct land areas. The Great Plains to the east are characterized by short grass, cottonwoods, and shrubs. Devils Tower National Monument rises out of this prairie. Ranges within Wyomings include the Big Horns and the Tetons. Ranges are separated by high plateaus known as the Intermontane Basins.
Depending on elevation, Wyoming can have cold winters and warm summers. Rain is rare. Snowfall in some mountain areas piles up to 200 inches or more per year. The southeastern portion of the state sees late spring thunderstorms and early summer tornados.
Tourism, energy, and agriculture contribute to the state's coffers. More than six million people visit Wyoming's national parks and monuments per year. Half of those visitors come to see stunning Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
An important part of Wyoming's cowboy culture, farms and ranches are leading producers of beef, hay, sugar beets, and wool. A major source of coal, coalbed methane, and crude oil, the state also has rich reserves of trona and natural gas.
Nellie Tayloe Ross became the country's first female governor in 1925. No other woman has served as Wyoming governor since.
Stats:
Population - 585,501
Persons 65 years old and over - 15%
High school graduates, persons age 25+ - 92%
Bachelor's degree or higher, persons age 25+ - 26%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin - 10%
White persons, not Hispanic - 86%
Median household income - $59,113
Median home value - $199,900
Social Security taxed? No
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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